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Basic Design Challenges

blended arts steam and design thinking education for early childhood

These open-ended challenges are perfect for the classroom, media center, or makerspace. Tackle anything from quick video-guided STEM builds to holiday-themed challenges done in a single class. Or take a deeper dive into project-based learning, blending STEM with civics, literacy, and community-centered design to inspire and empower students as they solve real-world problems. Each activity helps students strengthen creativity, collaboration, and an innovation-driven changemaker mindset.


**Note: Enjoy all unlocked lessons for free! Receive a free All-Access Pass with any 3Dux order.

  •  Video Guided STEM Challenges 
  •      Basic Design Challenges     
  •  Seasonal & Holiday Activities 
Image of a young student building a colorful cardboard house using a 3DuxDesign STEM kit, demonstrating an early learning project-based activity that teaches angles, engineering design, and creativity. Perfect for classrooms seeking engaging STEM education resources and hands-on problem-solving experiences for school children.
Image of a simple machines STEM activity showing a lizard applying force on one side of a lever and a duck acting as the load, demonstrating key concepts like fulcrum, load, and force. Ideal for K–5 classrooms using 3DuxDesign STEM kits to teach simple machines through hands-on, project-based learning.
Image of a simple machines STEM activity featuring a pulley system lifting a puppy, demonstrating how force and mechanical advantage work. Ideal for K–5 classrooms using 3DuxDesign STEM kits to teach pulleys and hands-on problem-solving through playful, project-based learning.
Image of a simple machines STEM activity showing two balls rolling on inclined ramps supported by blocks, demonstrating how ramps and inclines affect motion and force. Ideal for K–5 classrooms using 3DuxDesign STEM kits for hands-on, project-based learning in physics and early engineering.
Image of a simple machines STEM activity showing polar bear figures on a cardboard linkage system built with 3DuxDesign components, demonstrating how linkages create movement. Ideal for K–5 classrooms using hands-on project-based learning to explore engineering, mechanics, and simple machines.
Image of a simple machines STEM activity showing animals riding a spinning cardboard carousel built with wheels and axles using 3DuxDesign components. Ideal for K–5 classrooms exploring hands-on project-based learning in engineering, motion, and simple machines through playful STEM challenges.
Image of a student building a cardboard structure inspired by the book Boxitects, demonstrating a hands-on STEM challenge focused on sustainability and architectural design. Ideal for K–5 classrooms using 3DuxDesign materials to support creative problem-solving, engineering thinking, and project-based learning.
Image of a student playing a handmade empathy-themed board game using 3DuxDesign materials, illustrating a hands-on activity that builds communication, creativity, and life skills. Ideal for K–5 classrooms seeking project-based learning resources that integrate ELA, art and design, and social–emotional skill development through engaging STEM challenges.
Image of a student building a butterfly life cycle model using 3DuxDesign cardboard pieces, illustrating a hands-on life science activity for grades K–5. Ideal for classrooms seeking project-based STEM learning that reinforces biological concepts, creativity, and early engineering skills.
Image of a student constructing a wildlife-friendly bridge using 3DuxDesign components, demonstrating a hands-on STEM activity that integrates sustainability, life science, engineering, and civics. Ideal for K–5 classrooms seeking project-based learning resources focused on real-world problem-solving and environmental design.
https://www.3duxdesign.com/blogs/the-3dux-stem-show/episode-13-fun-with-friction
Image of a Thanksgiving-themed STEM activity where a turkey puppet moves using simple machines and linkages built with 3DuxDesign components. Ideal for K–5 classrooms seeking a fun project-based learning challenge that integrates engineering, shapes, and ELA during the holiday season.
Image of two holiday-themed cardboard robots built with 3DuxDesign components and simple circuits, illustrating a hands-on STEM activity that teaches forces, engineering, and circuitry. Ideal for grades 3–8 classrooms seeking fun, seasonal project-based learning experiences in robotics and creative design.
Image of a student-built cardboard Santa’s Workshop illuminated with LED circuits using a 3DuxDesign STEM kit, demonstrating a hands-on engineering and circuitry activity. Ideal for grades 3–6 classrooms seeking festive project-based learning experiences that build creativity, problem-solving, and STEM skills.
Image of three colorful reindeer characters built from 3DuxDesign cardboard pieces in a winter scene, demonstrating a creative holiday-themed STEM activity that integrates art, storytelling, and life skills. Ideal for K–5 classrooms seeking fun project-based learning experiences with optional technology components.
Illustration of two students using cardboard pieces and 3DuxDesign connectors while watching a Cardboard Hacks video tutorial on a laptop, representing K–12 video guides that teach building techniques for hands-on STEM projects.
Student building a cardboard pinhole camera with 3DuxDesign connectors and simple circuits, projecting an image onto a screen as part of a hands-on engineering and art STEM activity for grades 3–6.
Image of a student building a kooky character with a 3DuxDesign cardboard STEM kit, showcasing a hands-on project-based learning activity that supports engineering design, creativity, and early learning. Ideal for educators seeking engaging STEM lessons and real-world problem-solving experiences for school children.
Image of a young student building a colorful cardboard house using a 3DuxDesign STEM kit, demonstrating an early learning project-based activity that teaches angles, engineering design, and creativity. Perfect for classrooms seeking engaging STEM education resources and hands-on problem-solving experiences for school children.
Image of a student assembling a colorful community-themed cube using a 3DuxDesign cardboard STEM kit, showcasing a hands-on project-based learning activity that builds 3D modeling skills, creativity, and early engineering thinking. Ideal for classrooms seeking engaging STEM education resources for boys and girls.
Student building a cardboard community center model using 3DuxDesign connectors during a Designing Peace activity that teaches inclusion friendship teamwork and civic design for grades 3–8.
Two students building a desert-themed cardboard house model with 3DuxDesign connectors for a Homes and Habitats project exploring environments engineering and ELA for grades 2–5.
A student builds a Mars space station model using 3DuxDesign cardboard shapes and connectors while testing its stability with a small fan to simulate a windstorm. The scene includes a rocket-style structure, a habitat module, and a cartoon Mars in the background to highlight lessons in outer space physics and engineering for grades 3–8.
Elementary students build a 3DuxDesign hiker’s hut model in a forest environment, featuring a cardboard treehouse with connectors, a ladder platform, and a chimney. This environmental science and engineering STEM activity teaches grades 2–5 about habitats, sustainability, and community design.
Student drawing a 3D cube on graph paper while using a ruler and a cardboard model with 3DuxDesign connectors. This drafting and perspective STEM activity for grades 3–8 teaches math, engineering design, 3D modeling, and art skills through hands-on practice.
Student building a cardboard carnival roller coaster using 3DuxDesign connectors and ramps. This hands-on STEM challenge for grades 2–8 teaches simple machines, engineering design, problem solving, and creative construction over two class periods.
Elementary students collaborate to design and build an architect-themed playspace using 3DuxDesign cardboard shapes and connectors. This hands-on STEM and project-based learning activity for grades K–5 supports engineering design, ELA storytelling, art and creativity, and real-world life skills such as teamwork, problem solving, and communication, making it ideal for classroom centers and cross-curricular instruction.
Students build a model space station and use it to explore how solar and lunar eclipses work. This grades 3–6 STEM and project-based learning activity combines outer space science with engineering design, giving teachers a hands-on NGSS-aligned lesson in celestial motion, light and shadow, and collaborative problem solving.
https://www.3duxdesign.com/pages/3duxuniversity-designchallenge-arcade
Image of a student building a pop-star themed stage with 3DuxDesign cardboard and connectors, illustrating a hands-on STEM activity that integrates engineering, simple circuits, and creative design. Ideal for grades 3–8 classrooms seeking engaging project-based learning resources that blend arts, performance, and real-world problem-solving.
Students learn kid-friendly photography techniques to capture clear, polished images of their 3DuxDesign models. This grades 2–5 STEAM activity strengthens visual storytelling, design communication, creativity, and optional tech skills while supporting project-based learning and ELA connections.
A student holds a smartphone showing TikTok videos of STEM builds and 3DuxDesign cardboard projects with step-by-step demos.
Image of a farm-themed STEM lesson featuring a cow, turkey, barn, and simple machines, representing 3DuxDesign’s agricultural project-based learning activity for elementary students. Designed to teach simple machines, circuits, environmental science, and early engineering skills through hands-on, real-world STEM education for grades K–6.
Image of a Halloween STEM lesson for elementary students featuring a cardboard Pumpkin Pinball game with pumpkins ghosts and simple machines. Shows a hands-on 3DuxDesign STEM kit for boys and girls that supports early learning engineering skills angles and forces. Ideal for teachers seeking standards-aligned STEM education lesson plans and project-based learning activities for the classroom.
Image of two elementary students building a cardboard haunted house with a 3DuxDesign kit during a Halloween STEAM lesson. Shows hands-on STEM education simple machines early engineering and project-based learning for grades 1–8. Ideal for teachers seeking creative seasonal STEM activities for boys and girls.
Image of two elementary students building a cardboard Monster Making Machine with a 3DuxDesign STEM kit. Shows hands-on computer science literacy and early engineering as students create and process monster characters in a playful project-based learning activity for grades K–8.
Image of a Thanksgiving-themed STEM activity where a turkey puppet moves using simple machines and linkages built with 3DuxDesign components. Ideal for K–5 classrooms seeking a fun project-based learning challenge that integrates engineering, shapes, and ELA during the holiday season.
Image of a student-built cardboard Santa’s Workshop illuminated with LED circuits using a 3DuxDesign STEM kit, demonstrating a hands-on engineering and circuitry activity. Ideal for grades 3–6 classrooms seeking festive project-based learning experiences that build creativity, problem-solving, and STEM skills.
Image of three colorful reindeer characters built from 3DuxDesign cardboard pieces in a winter scene, demonstrating a creative holiday-themed STEM activity that integrates art, storytelling, and life skills. Ideal for K–5 classrooms seeking fun project-based learning experiences with optional technology components.
Image of two holiday-themed cardboard robots built with 3DuxDesign components and simple circuits, illustrating a hands-on STEM activity that teaches forces, engineering, and circuitry. Ideal for grades 3–8 classrooms seeking fun, seasonal project-based learning experiences in robotics and creative design.
Image of a polar bear and penguin skiing down a cardboard ramp in a winter-themed STEM lesson, illustrating 3DuxDesign’s hands-on simple machines and engineering project for elementary students. Designed to support early learning, problem-solving, and real-world STEM education for grades K–6.
Image of two elementary students building a cardboard dancing dragon for a Lunar New Year STEM project, showcasing 3DuxDesign’s simple machines and art-based lesson for grades K–5. A hands-on activity that supports early learning, creativity, cultural awareness, and real-world STEM education in the classroom.
Image of two elementary students building an Earth-themed cardboard model for an Earth Day STEM lesson, featuring trees, bees, and biodiversity icons. Highlights 3DuxDesign’s hands-on project-based learning activity that blends life science, engineering, technology, ELA, and real-world sustainability skills for grades 3–8.
Image of a hands-on Groundhog Day STEM lesson where students explore light and shadow using a cardboard model, a paper groundhog, and a flashlight. Designed to support science, engineering, and art learning for elementary students while teaching early physics concepts through playful, project-based activities.
Valentines Day Shadow Box Lesson Plan for grades 2-6 that promotes physical science - light and shadow formation 3DuxDesign
Image of an elementary STEM lesson where a child mixes recycled cardboard and seeds to make eco-friendly seed bombs, alongside a 3DuxDesign life science lesson plan. Ideal for K–5 classrooms exploring recycling, gardening, environmental science, and hands-on project-based learning that supports real-world sustainability skills.
Students working together to build Zodiac Critter Crossing lesson plan that includes simple machines, Math, ELA
Image of a boy building a cardboard carnival ride using a hands-on STEM kit for school children, featuring tracks, simple machines, and movable parts. This 3DuxDesign engineering lesson supports project-based learning for grades 2–8, helping students explore physics, problem-solving, and real-world design through creative construction.
Image of a student building a butterfly life cycle model using 3DuxDesign cardboard pieces, illustrating a hands-on life science activity for grades K–5. Ideal for classrooms seeking project-based STEM learning that reinforces biological concepts, creativity, and early engineering skills.
blended arts steam and design thinking education for early childhood
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stem with friends remote playdates

3DuxDesign wants to help keep kids connected. let us host a STEM With Friends Remote Playdate. Send each friend a kit and we will schedule a free design/build activity for you  and 5-10 of your besties  

Contact marci@3duxdesign.com for details

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